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Boulogne was eight leagues distant； and there was no public conveyance going。 Fullalove； entering heartily into his feelings； was gone to look for horses to hire； aided by the British Consul。 The black hero was upstairs clearing out with a pin two holes that had fallen into decay for want of use。 These holes were in his ears。
And now； worn out by anxiety and hard work； Dodd began to nod in his chair by the fire。
He had not been long asleep when the hideous face of Thibout reappeared at the window and watched him。 Presently a low whistle was uttered outside； and soon the two ruffians entered the room； and； finding the landlady there as well as Dodd； called for a little glass apiece of absinthe。 While drinking it； they cast furtive glances towards Dodd； and waited till she should go about her business； and leave them alone with him。
But the good woman surmised their looks； and knowing the character of the men； poured out a cup of coffee from a great metal reservoir by the fire； and waked Dodd without ceremony： 〃Voici votre cafe； Monsieur！〃 making believe he had ordered it。
〃Merci； Madame！〃 replied he； for his wife had taught him a little French。
〃One may sleep _mal a propos；_〃 muttered the woman in his ear。 〃My man is at the fair； and there are people here who are not worth any great things。〃
Dodd rubbed his eyes and saw those two foul faces at the end of the kitchen： for such it was； though called _salle a manger。_ 〃Humph！〃 said he； and instinctively buttoned his coat
At that Thibout touched Moinard's knee under the table。
Fullalove came in soon after to say he had got two horses； and they would be here in a quarter of an hour。
〃Well； but Vespasian？ how is he to go？〃 inquired Dodd。
〃Oh； we'll send him on ahead； and then ride and tie。〃
〃No； no；〃 said Dodd； 〃I'll go ahead。 That will shake me up。 I think I should tumble off a horse； I'm so dead sleepy。〃
Accordingly he started to walk on the road to Boulogne。
He had not been gone three minutes when Moinard sauntered out。
Moinard had not been gone two minutes when Thibout strolled out。
Moinard kept Dodd in sight and Thibout kept Moinard。
The horses were brought soon after； but unfortunately the pair did not start immediately； though； had they known it； every moment was precious。 They wasted time in argument。 Vespasian had come down with a diamond ring in one ear； and a ruby in the other。 Fullalove saw this retrograde step； and said grimly； 〃Have you washed but half your face； or is this a return to savagery？〃
Vespasian wore an air of offended dignity。 〃No； sar； these yar decorations come off a lady ob i cibilisation： Missy Beresford donated 'em me。 Says she； 'Massah Black'yah！ yah！ She always nick…nominates dis child Massa Black 'while I was praying Goramighty for self and pickaninny； I seen you out of one corner of my eye admirationing my rings； den just you take 'em；' says dat ar aristocracy： 'for I don't admirationise 'em none： I've been shipwrecked。' So I took 'em wid incredible condescension； and dat ar beautiful lady says to me； 'Oh； get along wid your nonsense about coloured skins！ I have inspectionated your conduct； Massa Black； and likewise your performances on the slack rope；' says she； 'in time of shipwreck： and darn me；' says she； 'but you are a man； you are。' 'No； Missy；' says I superciliously； 'dis child am not a man； if you please； but a coloured gemman。'〃 He added； he had put them in his ears because the biggest would not go on his little finger。
Fullalove groaned。 〃And of course； the next thing； you'll ring your snout like a pig or a Patagonian。 There； come along； ye darn'dAnomaly。〃
He was going to say 〃Cuss；〃 but remembering his pupil's late heroic conduct； softened it down to Anomaly。
But Vespasian always measured the force of words by their length or obscurity。 〃Anomaly〃 cut him to the heart： he rode off in moody silence and dejection； asking himself sorrowfully what he had done that such a mountain of vituperation should fall on him。 〃Anomaly！！〃
They cantered along in silence； for Fullalove was digesting this new trait in his pupil； and asking himself could he train it out； or must he cross it out。 Just outside the town they met Captain Robarts walking in； he had landed three miles off down the coast。 〃Hallo！〃 said Fullalove。
〃I suppose you thought I was drowned？〃 said Robarts spitefully； 〃but you see I'm alive still。〃
Fullalove replied； 〃Well； captain； that is only one mistake more you've made； I reckon。〃
About two English miles from the town they came to a long straight slope up and down； where they could see a league before them； and there they caught sight of David Dodd's tall figure mounting the opposite rise。
Behind him at some little distance were two men going the same way； but on the grass by the roadside； whereas David was on the middle of the road。
〃He walks well for Jacky Tar；〃 said Fullalove。
〃Iss； sar；〃 said Vespasian sulkily； 〃but dis 'Analogy' tink he not walk so fast as those two behind him； cos they catch him up。〃
Now Vespasian had hardly uttered these words when a thing occurred； so sudden and alarming； that the speaker's eyes protruded； and he was dumfounded a moment； the next a loud cry burst from both him and his companion at once； and they lashed their horses to the gallop and went tearing down the hill in a fury of rage and apprehension。
Mr。 Fullalove was right； I think： a sailor is seldom a smart walker； but Dodd was a cricketer； you know； as well。 He swung along at a good pace and in high spirits。 He had lost nothing but a few clothes； and a quadrant； and a chronometer； it was a cheap wreck to him； and a joyful one： for peril past is present delight。 He had saved his life； and what he valued more； his children's money。 Never was that dear companion of his perils so precious to him as now。 One might almost fancy that； by some strange sympathy； he felt the immediate happiness of his daughter depended on it。 Many in my day believe that human minds can thus communicate； overleaping material distances。 Not knowing； I can't say。 However； no such solution is really needed here。 All the members of a united and loving family feel together and work togetherwithout specific concertthough hemispheres lie between： it is one of the beautiful traits of true family affection。 Now the Dodds； father； mother； sister； brother； were more one in heart and love than any other family I ever saw： woe to them if they had not。
David； then； walked towards Boulogne that afternoon a happy man。 Already he tasted by anticipation the warm caresses of his wife and children； and saw himself seated at the hearth； with those beloved ones clustering close round him。 How would he tell them Its adventuresIts dangers from piratesIts loss at seaIts recoveryIts wreckIts coming ashore dry as a bone； and conclude by taking It out of his bosom and dropping It in his wife's lap with 〃Cheer； boys； cheer！〃
Trudging on in this delightful reverie； his ear detected a pitpat at some distance behind him： he looked round with very slight curiosity and saw two men coming up。 Even in that hasty glance he recognised the foulface of Andre Tiribout； a face not to be forgotten in a day。 I don't know ho